Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I raise an issue that I regret is not of the same importance as an issue raised earlier by my colleague, Senator Ruane. As mentioned by her, every day someone dies from a drug overdose. It is terrifying. As others said, we have to take this on board. As a House, we should be rallying behind our colleague, Senator Ruane, championing the issue of a citizens' assembly on drugs.

Having listened to Senator Ruane, I am a little mortified to raise the issue of dog litter, but it is the issue I came to the House today to raise. Dog litter is an issue for people. According to a response to a question tabled by Councillor Keith Connolly in 2021, there were no fines for dog litter. In 2014, we had 18 litter wardens. We now have only 13 litter wardens. Dog litter is a huge scourge in our urban areas and our landscape generally. In 2017, I brought forward the Litter Pollution (Amendment) Bill which seeks to increase fines in line with inflation and makes it an offence to not pick up after one's dog. It is hoped this will be put on a statutory footing to allow people bring claims against individuals if harm is caused to them due to dog fouling.

We are all familiar with the disease toxocariasis which in the main affects children who pick up dog littler. It is hoped it will be possible to progress this Bill to Committee Stage. I commend Leitrim County Council on its pilot of DNA profiling of dog litter in an attempt to tackle the scourge of dog litter around country. While this is the issue I came to the House to raise, I fully support the issue raised by Senator Ruane and others.